Amtrak Vacations
Coast to Coast - Seattle to New York
10-day rail trip from Seattle to New York via Chicago
10 daysfrom $1,469
50% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
Glacier National Park Express
10-day Amtrak rail trip from Chicago to Seattle via Glacier National Park
Amtrak Vacations runs this 10-day, 9-night independent rail trip one way from Chicago to Seattle by way of Glacier National Park. The trip opens with two nights in Chicago, including an architecture sightseeing cruise of the harbor, before boarding the Empire Builder at Union Station for an overnight ride toward Glacier National Park. Three nights at the Glacier Park Lodge include the Big Sky Circle Tour along Going-to-the-Sun Road, past Logan Pass and Goat Lick, and a boat cruise across Two Medicine Valley. From there, travelers board the Empire Builder again for an overnight ride on to Seattle, where two nights include a multi-day hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour and admission to the Space Needle observation deck and Chihuly Garden and Glass. This suits travelers who want city time bookended around one long scenic train ride and a national park stay.
What to know before you look closer
- 13 hotel choices span Chicago (Holiday Inn to Waldorf Astoria) and Seattle (Hampton Inn to Kimpton Hotel Vintage), so actual comfort depends on what is selected at booking.
- The Big Sky Circle Tour (mid-June to mid-September) and Two Medicine Valley boat cruise (early June to early September) both run only in summer.
- Only 6 meals (3 breakfasts and 3 dinners) are included across the 9-night trip; other meals are on your own.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Chicago
Chicago, IL
Welcome to Chicago! Spend some free time exploring all this amazing city has to offer. Take a walk down the Magnificent Mile for world class shopping, dining, and attractions. Head to the architectural wonder Millennium Park. Stop by Navy Pier for tasty food and great views of the city. The Windy City is truly one of a kind.
- Day 2overnight: Chicago
Chicago, IL
Enjoy a sightseeing architectural cruise of the Chicago harbor. Experienced and entertaining tour guides will recount the dramatic story of Chicago's rise from the Great Fire of 1871 and how the Windy City became the home of the skyscraper and the cradle of modern American architecture.
- Day 3overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Today, you will travel to Chicago's Union Station and board the Empire Builder®. Traveling daily between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest along major portions of the Lewis and Clark trail, the mighty Empire Builder takes you on an exciting adventure through majestic wilderness, following the footsteps of early pioneers.
- Day 4overnight: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, MT
Welcome to Glacier National Park, home to two different mountain ranges, 130 lakes, 1,000 species of plants, and 16,000 square miles of protected land. Enjoy the mountain air during your short walk to the iconic Glacier Park Lodge, where you can settle in for a good night's rest.
- Day 5overnight: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, MT
Today you begin your exploration of Glacier National Park's unparalleled mountain beauty. Your Big Sky Circle Tour picks you up from the hotel and carries you off through the park. As your guide drives through mountains along Going-to-the-Sun Road, past majestic points of interest such as Logan Pass and Goat Lick, you are provided a wonderfully narrated experience. You'll learn about the history, geology, plants, and wildlife of the park as well as the history and folklore of the native Blackfoot and Flathead tribes that once called this land home.
- Day 6overnight: Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, MT
No trip to Glacier National Park would be complete without a chance to experience one of its pristine mountain lakes. Today you are transported to Two Medicine Valley, deep within the national park, for a sightseeing boat cruise. Marvel at the natural beauty of the valley, the lake, and keep your eyes open for the wildlife that frequent the shoreline.
- Day 7overnight: Onboard Amtrak
Overnight Onboard Amtrak
Enjoy a relaxing morning at the Glacier Park Lodge before transferring on your own to the East Glacier Station this afternoon and boarding Amtrak to Seattle.
- Day 8overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Welcome to Seattle! Get to know the "Emerald City" on a multi-day hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. This fully-narrated tour features famous landmarks, including Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Seattle's Great Wheel, the waterfront, and many more popular destinations. Feel free to hop on and off at any stop to further explore any of the sites at your own pace.
- Day 9overnight: Seattle
Seattle, WA
Continue your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of Seattle and explore any of the famous landmarks you didn't get a chance to see yesterday. Today, also includes admission to the Space Needle Observation Deck and Chihuly Garden and Glass museum. The Space Needle is the most iconic structure in the city and from the 520-foot high observation deck, you'll get stunning views of Mt. Rainier, the lights of downtown Seattle, and Elliott Bay.
- Day 10
Your Journey Ends in Seattle
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 3Boarding the Empire Builder at Chicago's Union Station begins the overnight ride along the Lewis and Clark trail toward Glacier National Park.
- Day 5The Big Sky Circle Tour follows Going-to-the-Sun Road past Logan Pass and Goat Lick.
- Day 6A sightseeing boat cruise crosses Two Medicine Valley, deep within Glacier National Park.
- Day 9The Space Needle's 520-foot observation deck gives views of Mt. Rainier and downtown Seattle.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Chicago to Glacier National Park and Glacier National Park to Seattle onboard the Empire Builder®
- 7 nights' hotel accommodations; 2 nights' onboard Amtrak
- 6 meals included (3 breakfasts and 3 dinners)
Also sold by
The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.
- Railbookersfrom $3,699
Questions travellers ask
- Is the train travel included?
- Yes. One-way Amtrak Coach class travel on the Empire Builder is included from Chicago to Glacier National Park and on to Seattle.
- Is this trip escorted or independent?
- It is an independent rail vacation with guided tours included, such as the Chicago architecture cruise, the Big Sky Circle Tour, and a Seattle sightseeing tour.
- How many nights are spent in Glacier National Park?
- Three, at the Glacier Park Lodge, with the Big Sky Circle Tour and a Two Medicine Valley boat cruise included.
- What hotels are used?
- A choice of 13 hotels across Chicago, Glacier National Park (Glacier Park Lodge), and Seattle, with the exact hotel depending on what is selected at booking.
- Are meals included?
- 6 meals are included: 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners. Other meals are on your own.
- When does this trip run?
- The Big Sky Circle Tour runs mid-June to mid-September and the Two Medicine Valley boat cruise runs early June to early September, so this itinerary is bookable only in that summer window.
